Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United takeover bid is reportedly 'dead in the water', with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani now firmly the favourite to purchase the club.
Not too long ago, Ratcliffe was believed to be firmly at the head of the queue for the Red Devils, with the British billionaire thought to have been identified as the preferred bidder by the Glazers.
However, various reports of late have placed Sheikh Jassim as the favourite, with the Qatari banker looking to complete a full takeover of the club, in addition to committing funds to improve Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.
Ratcliffe, on the other hand, is only said to be looking for a controlling stake of Man United at this stage, with a full takeover potentially occurring after three years.
According to Bloomberg, Ratcliffe's bid is now 'dead in the water', with Sheikh Jassim soon expected to be named as the preferred bidder.
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A number of Man United shareholders are said to be opposed to the structure of Ratcliffe's offer, with the Qatari group now confident of securing a takeover in the not too distant future.
The process has been ongoing since last November, when the Glazers revealed that they were open to a sale, but there has been a lack of serious movement in recent weeks.
During the exclusivity period which is expected to be granted, Man United would not be able to enter into any discussions with another party, allowing Sheikh Jassim to have a clear run at completing a deal.
The uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club is believed to be impacting the transfer plans at Old Trafford, with the size of the budget available to head coach Erik ten Hag unclear at this stage.
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There have been suggestions that Sheikh Jassim would want to bring Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford this summer should he complete a takeover.
The Red Devils remain in discussions over a deal for Chelsea's Mason Mount, with a move still thought to be probable despite Chelsea thus far rejecting each of Man United's offers.
A new centre-forward remains a priority for the club, but a deal for leading target Harry Kane remains extremely complicated, with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy unwilling to sell to a domestic rival.
Man United would also require a new number one goalkeeper if David de Gea leaves, with the Spaniard's contract at Old Trafford due to expire at the end of the month.
The club's players not involved for their countries this summer will report for pre-season training at Carrington next week, with the team's first friendly of the summer against Leeds United on July 12.
Matt Law
